This inspirational session will highlight the key components of a successful high school model. Participants will learn strategies for integrating technology into the classroom, building a culture of support for all students and empowering students and teachers with data to motivate change in student achievement. Presenters: Connie Collins and Demetria Hayes Faison, Crooms Academy of IT

1. Comprehensive IT: Opportunities for Students
When the Whole School is ‘The Academy’
Crooms Academy of Information Technology
Seminole County Public Schools
Sanford, FL
Dr. Connie Collins, Former Principal
Demetria Hayes Faison, Principal
croomsaoit.org

2. #NAFNext
Crooms Academy of Information Technology
School Profile for 2012-2013
• Seminole County Public Schools’ only dedicated
magnet
• Open enrollment for all rising freshmen and
students are randomly selected for admission
• 577 students, 35 teachers, 2 counselors, 2 APs
• Student population: 56% White, 21% Hispanic,
15% African American, 4% Asian, 2% Multiracial,
1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander
• 47% percent of student population is economically
disadvantaged

3. #NAFNext
Crooms Academy of Information Technology
School Profile for 2012-2013
• School grade of “A” on Florida’s School Accountability
Report
• US News and World Report’s #1 Most Connected
Classrooms in the US
• Listed in US News and World Report’s list of US Best High
Schools
• Listed in Newsweek as one of US Best High Schools
• National Academy Foundation, Distinguished Academy
• Magnet Schools of America, Magnet School of Excellence

4. #NAFNext
“Poor students do not exhibit low academic
achievement because they are poor but
because of the way that we treat poor
children. . . What commentators call an
‘ethnic gap’ is, in fact, a teaching gap, a
curriculum gap, and an expectations gap.”
Doug Reeves, 2006 in The Learning Leader

5. #NAFNext
What Should We Do? . . .
. . . All That We Can!

6. #NAFNext
It Takes a Village:
A Multi-Pronged Approach
Stephen Covey, ISTE International Conference 2011

7. #NAFNext
Our Schoolhouse Model
• Technology Integration in the Content Areas
• Professional Learning Communities
• Response to Intervention
• Positive Behavior Support
• Kagan Learning Strategies
• Ruby Payne Poverty Training
• Marzano Art and Science of Teaching

8. #NAFNext
We Control Factors
We Can Control
• What gets taught
• Who teaches it
• How it gets taught
• Empowering both teacher AND students with
data and monitoring to motivate students and
improve student achievement
• Academic interventions during the school day
• Extended day activities
• Student support through faculty academic
advocates and community mentors

9. #NAFNext
Areas of Focus
• Integrating technology
• Empowering both teachers and students with
data and monitoring to motivate and improve
student achievement
• Building a culture of excellence and support for
all students

10. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
• Every student is issued a personal laptop which
comes loaded with software and hardware
• Access to the Internet and network resources on
campus is given via a wireless network
• Crooms Academy has 10 computer labs including
an Apple Mac desktop lab and a game and
simulation lab
• The school also features SMART technologies in
every classroom

11. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
• Extensive technology coursework offered onsite
and 23 courses offered through Early College/Dual
Enrollment at Seminole State College of Florida
• Staff uses technology and Web 2.0 tools to
support and improve instruction
• Students use technology to enhance learning in
content course
• Cross-curricular projects between core academic
teachers and technology teachers

12. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
• Network Concepts
• Network Computer
Maintenance and Repair
• Office Applications
• Adv. Office Applications
• Bitmap Graphics
• Intro to Digital Media
• Web Programming
• Web Applications
• Web Scripting & AJAX
• Data Driven Websites
• Principles of Computer
Programming
• C# Programming
• Adv. C# Programming
• Cisco Networking I
• Cisco Networking II
• Cisco Networking III
• Cisco Networking IV
• Intro to Internetworking
Security
• Database Management
• Intro to UNIX (Linux +)
• Oracle SQL
• Intro to Wireless Technologies
• Intro to IP Telephony

13. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology

14. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
IT Industry Certifications
Adobe Dreamweaver Associate
Adobe Flash Associate
Adobe Photoshop Associate
Certified Internet Web (CIW) Design Specialist
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)

15. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
Oracle Certified Associate
Microsoft Office Specialist
Microsoft Technical Associate Windows
Operating Systems Fundamentals

16. #NAFNext
Integration of Technology
151 industry certifications earned in 2012-2013
17 Adobe Dreamweaver
1 Adobe Flash
48 Adobe Photoshop
16 Adobe Premiere Pro
5 CompTIA A+
34 Microsoft Office Specialist (*must pass 3 exams)
153 Power Point
119 Word
37 Excel
30 Microsoft Technical Associate

17. #NAFNext
What’s In Your Toolbox?
Take a few minutes to reflect:
• Which industry certifications could you offer at your
school that are aligned with your NAF courses and
academy theme?
• How could you infuse Web 2.0 tools in your
classroom to enhance student learning?
• How could your academy expand the partnership
with the local community college to offer or increase
dual enrollment courses at your school site?

18. #NAFNext
Using Data and Progress Monitoring to
Drive and Improve Instruction
“Data-driven decision making can produce
its intended effects only if supported by
organizational capacity that allows schools
and leaders to intentionally change
instructional practices in the face of new
information”
(Halverson, et al., 2005).

19. #NAFNext
Using Data and Progress Monitoring to
Drive and Improve Instruction
• Ongoing Progress Monitoring
– Discovery Education Assessments for Reading, Algebra,
Geometry, Biology, and College Readiness
– Write Score for Writing
– Certiport for Adobe Certifications
– GMetrix for Microsoft Office Specialist
– Measure Up for Microsoft Technical Associate
– District common assessments
– Classroom assessments

20. #NAFNext
Using Data and Progress Monitoring to
Drive and Improve Instruction
• During pre-plan teachers review student achievement
data from the previous year and reflect on strengths
and needs
• Teachers develop a personal improvement plan based
on instructional needs of students
• Teachers analyze current student data and adjust
instruction to achieve maximum achievement
• Teachers work in professional learning communities
by grade level, by department, or by course to
implement best practices

21. #NAFNext
Using Data and Progress Monitoring to
Drive and Improve Instruction
• Monitor student progress through periodic screening
and diagnostics in Writing, Reading, Math, Biology, and
Technology
• Teachers adjust instruction based on results
• Teachers proactively support students to prevent
regression
• Tutoring and a variety of interventions or acceleration
are provided as needed
• Teachers and students conference and set goals for
improvement and students monitor their own progress

22. #NAFNext
Using Data and Progress Monitoring to
Drive and Improve Instruction
2012-2013 State of Florida Assessment Results for Crooms
• Highest district proficiency FCAT Reading 2.0
• Highest district high school performance in Writing 2.0
(3.5)
• Highest district high school performance in Biology EOC
• Highest district high school performance in Algebra EOC
• Highest district high school performance in Geometry EOC
• Highest district high school performance in U.S. History
EOC

23. #NAFNext
What’s In Your Toolbox?
Take a few minutes to reflect:
• Are there data-focused professional learning
communities (PLCs) on your campus?
• How are the PLCs utilizing progress monitor data
within your academy to inform instruction?
• Does your administrative team plan for time during
the school day for teachers to meet by grade level,
department, or course to review data and plan
collaboratively?

24. #NAFNext
Building a Culture of Support
for All Students
• Literacy strategies implemented in core academic
and technology courses
• Advisement lessons: Weekly lessons that support
best instructional practices
• 20-minute uninterrupted block of silent sustained
reading three days per week
• Guided Study academic intervention during the
school day
• After-school tutoring and student support
• SAT and ACT preparation

25. #NAFNext
Building a Culture of Support
for All Students
• Literacy Leadership Team
– Surveys of student and teacher literacy needs
– One Book, One School Project
– Promotion of reading through Scholastic Reading Counts
Quiz Competition
– Strategy of the Month Program
– Support of classroom libraries
• Explorers Club for at-risk students to develop
cultural literacy, vocabulary, and leadership skills

26. #NAFNext
Building a Culture of Support
for All Students
• Four Year Career Plan
9th grade: Success Skills
10th grade: Enhanced Success Skills
11th grade: Job shadowing
12th grade: Internships, Exit Interviews
• Business Advisory Council
Classroom Speakers
Mentors to teachers and students
Host job shadowing experiences and student interns
• Annual Tech Fest Student Conference

27. #NAFNext
What’s In Your Toolbox?
Take a few minutes to reflect:
• Is there time within your master schedule to schedule
time for interventions during the school day?
• How does your school plan for providing student
supports/tutorial beyond the school day? Brainstorm
some ways that the plan can be improved to be even
more effective.
• Could you implement a student focused conference on
campus to introduce your students to industry leaders,
local businesses, and colleges and universities who are
aligned with your academy theme?

28. #NAFNext
There Is No Silver Bullet
• Combining a variety of researched based
practices, providing the support to implement
and monitor these practices have led to our
successful IT academy
• We collaborate as a staff to provide the best
atmosphere for success for all students

29. #NAFNext
“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.
They seem not to notice us, hovering,
averting our eyes, and they seldom offer
thanks, but what we do for them is never
wasted.”
-Garrison Keillor